Common Causes of Death for Bearded Dragons

Common causes of death for bearded dragons can occur, even with a lifespan of fifteen to twenty years in captivity. Even with this long life span, bearded dragons can get an illness or disease that can eventually lead to death. The best way to prevent your bearded dragon from becoming ill is to practice good sanitary habits and make routine veterinarian visits.

There is still a chance of something going wrong, so it’s a good idea to be aware of common causes of death for a bearded dragon. Let’s discuss some of the most common causes of death for bearded dragons.

Metabolic Bone Disease

Metabolic Bone Disease is very common among captive-raised bearded dragons. It stems from a lack of calcium intake in the reptile’s diet.

Bearded dragons need calcium to build strong bones, and without enough of it the skeletal system becomes very brittle. Metabolic Bone Disease can lead to deformed and brittle bones. Death is certain in severe cases.

Make sure to offer your bearded dragon a varied diet supplemented with a good calcium and vitamin D3 powder that is dusted on the food. Rep-Cal Ultrafine Powder Calcium with Vitamin D3 is an excellent supplement that helps prevent Metabolic Bone Disease.

Bearded dragons also need UVA and UVB lighting which helps the bearded dragon synthesize the calcium for strong, healthy bones.

Impaction

Unfortunately, many bearded dragons kept as pets today end up dying from impaction. Impaction happens when the bearded dragon swallows a foreign object over time that causes a blockage in the digestive tract.

This is very common when loose substrates are used in the habitat. These substrates include ground ground walnut shells, sand, or other loose particle substrates.

Many times the bearded dragon may go after a food item, such as a cricket, and accidentally swallow some of the substrate. The substrate pieces then become trapped in the digestive system causing a blockage.

Impaction will most likely result in the untimely death of the bearded dragon unless detected early.

The best way to avoid impaction is to not use loose particle substrate. Use Reptile Cage Carpet, newspaper, or ceramic tiles as a safer alternative.

Infections

There are a number of possible infections that your bearded dragon could get. They can range from mouth rot to abbesses to inflamed joints. The best way to control infections is to maintain sanitary conditions within the enclosure.

Remove any droppings and left over food pieces as soon as they are discovered, and sterilize the enclosure with Healthy Habitat cleaner at least twice a month or whenever the terrarium becomes smelly.

Egg Binding

Egg binding, or dystocia, occurs when a gravid female bearded dragon cannot, or will not, lay eggs. This is due mainly because of the lack of a suitable nesting site.

The eggs will become too large to lay if the female does not find a suitable nesting site. This can cause the eggs to become “stuck”. If this goes on for too long it could result in the premature death of the female bearded dragon.

Symptoms of egg binding include swelling around the mid-section of the body, continual, anxious movement, and constant digging.

If you suspect egg binding, supply a suitable nesting site and contact your veterinarian immediately.

Vitamin Toxicity

Vitamin toxicity occurs when a particular type of vitamin builds up in the bearded dragon’s body to an excessive level. The most common form of vitamin toxicity is from high intakes of vitamin A.

Bearded dragons metabolize vitamin A slowly and high doses can build up in the body. A good alternative is to use supplements that contain beta carotene instead of vitamin A.

Common Causes of Death for Bearded Dragons

Following a few simple precautions can keep your pet bearded dragon alive for many years to come. Remember to always take the bearded dragon to a veterinarian for check-ups each year, and keep the habitat sanitary.

Reader Interactions

Comments

Just found our 4month old beardie dead this morning. We have followed all the feeding tips and lighting requirements and everything. He just started shedding a few days ago. We found him on the floor of his cage (reptile carpet) on his belly with his neck crooked way up in the air. And he was dead. Almost a bluish coloring around his mouth. I can not for the lufe of me figure out how he died or what happened.

Hi Jennifer, so sorry to hear about your baby beardie! It’s really difficult to positively determine the possible cause of death sometimes. The best advice I can give is to recommend that you take your beardie to a herp vet and have a necropsy perform (an animal autopsy). The procedure generally costs around $100, but it may give you some answers.

I purchased a 4 year old bearded dragon for a friends birthday. I had it at my house for about a week and he came to pick him up last night. This morning he gets up to a dead dragon. Im blown away with this. All that I can think is maybe moving him was stressful? I’m going to purchase another and take it directly to his house. I’m hoping this will be OK. I love animals and I feel so bad for this Lil guy. What did we do wrong?

My three year old beardie died unexpectedly yesterday morning. I wanted to get a necropsy, but my parents said it was too expensive and not worth it; I honestly just wanted to know that it wasn’t something that I did to cause it. He has already been cremated, so I will never know if I accidentally killed my friend. He had no outward signs of illness and he was pooping and eating regularly. I loved him so much and I want to get another rescue (he had been adopted), but I am afraid I will kill another wonderful animal.

sorry to here about that ash my 3 and a half year old died today-her name was scorch and she had a light pink foot about 3 days ago so we planned a vet trip and 1 day later a black infection was on her foot and looked like something took a small chunch out and so today we took her to the petco because we don’t know any vets open because it’s labor Day so all are closed and we went to see what was up and we got there and fed her carnivore meal and she didn’t eat and we were driving home and she past in the car? anybody know what the foot infection might have been from?

Found my dragon dead this morning so devastating we had her for 10yrs she has just been treated for an eye infection a week ago I cried like a baby and my 2 yr old son said don’t cry mom it will be ok x she was in good health just old the vets said wanted to know how long dragons live normal?

It is widely known by beardie owners that a warm bath will induce a ? poop 🙂 We use this as a way to get our dragon to poop if he hasn’t in a few days, we will also massage his sides while in the water if the the warm bath alone doesn’t work. It is common and usual, I guess it relaxs them.

So sorry to hear that. It almost sounds like the stargazing symptom from adenovirus. Again, as comment above states, they won’t know for sure unless necropsy. But if it was Adenovirus, there was nothing you could have done it affects mainly young dragons and not much is known about it.

My beardie (4-5 years old) died yesterday, but the only thing that had made me feel better is knowing it was not my fault, my beardie prolapsed (pushing to hard while needing a poo) I have to bury him today , about 2 days before he was dead he had a sack hanging out of hit bottom, it too him just under 3 days to die , beardie’a can still move up to a day after dying

Hi my draggon was 6 years old ive hand reared him since he was 3 months old he has been eatin and drinkin fine he was full of life but i moved him out of a room into another since i moved him the past wek he has been ok untill this morning wen he was all black and had died please help

“about 2 days before he was dead he had a sack hanging out of hit bottom, it too him just under 3 days to die , beardie’a can still move up to a day after dying”

I am STUNNED. You see a SACK HANGING OUT OF HIS BOTTOM and you don’t take “him” to a Vet??
First off, I believe you had a Female. NOT a male. I could be wrong, because I was not there to “sex” the dragon.
ANYHOO……It took him 3 days to die?? HOW CRUEL CAN YOU BE? and to boot you say you feel better because it’s NOT YOUR FAULT??

GOD HAVE MERCY!!

Prolapses CAN BE FIXED.
You could have AT THE VERY LEAST taken this dragon to the vet and had the poor thing put out if its PAINFUL MISERY.

okay well maybe they didn’t have the money or didn’t have a reptile vet near them wow how rude can people be. I mean people learn from mistakes just point them out nicely like oh well you could have taken them to a vet and they could have helped not telling them to never buy a bearded dragon again.

No kidding. At least he tried to give the beardy a home. I’m sure he realizes he made a mistake and won’t do it again. Taking care of a reptile is a learning process, especially with a beardy when you start doing research and get a bunch of conflicting information on what to do and not to do. It’s unfortunate and sad that this beardy died but chill out man. Glad this site exists to give good information.

My “Rosie” was given to me 5 years ago by someone who no longer wanted her. I knew nothing about beardie’s, but researched as much as I could. She thrived under my care, and is very much loved. My financial situation has greatly changed, not for the better in those 5 years, and she is now ill, I can’t afford a visit to the vet, but I am doing everything I possibly can to nurse her back to health, so does that make me a bad person for not knowing that 5 years down the road I wouldn’t have the money to treat her? I will go without to make sure my furry and scaled babies have everything they need, but a visit to the vet is just too expensive when there is only one income. Your comment was rude and unnecessary. Instead of being negative, please say a prayer for my little Rosie. I am praying that she makes it. I will keep researching and won’t give up on her.

This comment is very rude, you have absolutely no idea what is going on and why he wasn’t taken to the vet. I am experiencing prolase as we speak and I am devastated but can not take my beardie to a vet at the moment because it’s forth of July weekend and no one is open. So therefore you have absolutely no idea what’s going on so to be that rude was uncalled for. I am beside myself at the moment doing everything I can to get my bearded dragon through so she makes it to see a vet.

Not taking action or searching for a way to fix a problem, is being part of the problem. I would and have gone out of the way for every single one of my pets if there was ever a problem. If someone couldn’t help me then I would exercise self-reliance. If I can learn how to properly clean and stitch a wound, insert a catheter for an IV Drip, and many more advanced medical procedures a step or two up from your typical first aid then you can be taught how to help your pet. It all comes down to what you are willing to do for what you. Don’t have internet? Library. No Library? Assess the situation and do your best to make an educated guess. I would rather have someone try to help me in a situation where there is no other assistance or way to get help than sit on their hands.

You guys are straight up rediculious yes it is a life that you take into your hands but natural selection always takes its course aninmals die in cruel ways all the time they get hit by cars and normally don’t die instantly if these dragons where wild aninmals less the 25% of them would make it through to adult size and less than 5% would live past 6 years dragons get all kinds of diseases and die in all kinds of cruel ways you honestly think parents will pay for they’re kids 60 dollar pet to take it to a proper vet and pay hundreds to possibly fix it!!?? Your crazy and I’m sure it would be highly traumatic to kill a pet in front of a child it is easier to let it pass on its oan things die in cruel ways every day if you eat any chicken or steak youde know this livestock is brutally slaughtered every day and I’m sure they suffer in highly unsanitary ways every day if you have a problem with a lizard croaking you should quit your job and go protest all the livestalk farmers and all the whalers aninmals and humans die every day. Ps I’ve had 2 dragons in my life one lived 12years no issues and the other is 2 and very happy in a 150gal tank

Hey I’m Ashley, I had a 4-5 year old bearded dragon, he has had some issues in the past such as bone disease where he had lost all the bones in his arms and legs but then he got better, soon after that he stopped eating and walking and he wouldn’t move, he tried. I had come home to see him laying flat on his back, he has done this once or twice. He soon died the day before yesterday and I am devastated. I just don’t know how he died, I found him as if he was exploded on the inside, his beard was jet black and his eyes were black and bulging and swollen with like hard puss stuff clinging on the outside, he seemed bloated (he was very skinny before) he seemed as if he was over weight and I don’t know how he could have died. Please let me know!! ASAP thanks:)

i just got in from work to find my dragon had died sometime today….he hasnt been eating at all over the past few weeks… he has had mites for over two years and i had tried everything to get rid of them including using a medicated spray with more than four week period inbetween application, bathing in the bath and shallow water but with no avail. I found that the spray i bought at the reptile shop made him very lethargic and he looked ill so i didnt use it for about a a year and them recently the mites became quite dominant around his eyes in particular and i thought i would try it again so i sprayed him about a 2 weeks ago and after that he just stopped eating and drinking i bathed him and even tried to syringe droplets into his mouth last night because his eyes were all sucked into there sockets….after he had drank some of the water i had given him and layed in the water for 20minutes he started to move about. I gave him all manners of fresh finely chopped veg this morning …fresh water and wax worms…..i went to work @ 10 am and came back @ midnight to find him with his jaw wide open i almost thought he was yorning but then i realised his eyes were weird and that he had died……..i am devastated as he was a good pet and my son loved him…..Rest In Peace Mr. D 08/08/14

I just found One of My 15 baby beardies dead. He still had his Full Colors, NO hardness or whatsoever.. Only .. It seems like it’s skull was scooped/eaten out.. The eyes were missing.. Weird… anyone any ideas what caused this?

I have a young bearded dragon and he was perfectly fine this morning and i received a call right now that he might be dead but he has always kinda played dead ever since we bought him from his last owner so im not sure how to actually tell if hes dead and in no ways was he mistreated we loved him so much we also have an older beardie in with him im not sure how to tell if she knows hes dead either

Same thing happened to mine was fine then all of a sudden wasn’t very unactive and I literally didn’t even sleep before going to work trying everything to find out what was wrong come home after work and not moving at all but plays dead alot so I’m not sure if he’s sleeping or dead he’s very small I just got him last week he was doing fine besides playing dead alot but now he doesn’t seem to be moving at all I’m so confused and upset idk what to do

We found our beautiful girl 10 years old has passed away today soooo upset we
Don’t know how he died she had her mouth open her chin black , a bit of sand in her mouth, I’m so upset to think something happened and we may have been able to help her , any ideas on why she passed away 🙁

Hi Leeann, We are very sorry to hear about the passing of your beloved bearded dragon. It is very difficult to diagnose a possible cause of death without knowing certain conditions (i.e., terrarium set up, diet, etc). The best way to find out a cause of death is having a vet perform a necropsy (an autopsy for animals). This could highlight a possible medical condition that led to the passing. Your bearded dragon was in “advanced” years being 10 years old, though.

She may have choked on the sand. Please do your homework before you own a beardie, who have very specific care requirements. Lights, heat, vitamins, husbandry ect. It is not like owning a cat or dog. No one should own one unless u have done extensive homework. Be prepared to take your beardie to the vet. Just like any pet, they require vet care. Don’t own one if u cannot care for their very specific needs. I am not directing this to anyone in particular, just everyone!

Really upset, come home from college today, gone upstairs to see my almost 4 year old beardie and get her out as I normally do and she is not responding, eyes sunken and stiff…I believe she has passed 🙁 She hasn’t been wanting to eat for days now and also hasn’t had a poo for about a week, Last night she was also not really doing much (she is normally quite active). does that mean she had impaction? I used a sand substrate that was supposed to be safe for beardies 🙁 really upset and I have no idea what to do with her now, really upset and would love some answers

Ok I got home today to find my versus head down in his tree. I picked him up and gae him a bath / dried him and put him in his tank. His lighting was normal, tank clean, food and water provided and when I woke up today he was laying on his log, where I put him, not moving and his tongue sticking out. He was 1 1/2 years old and dearly loved. I just want to know what I did wrong. He was going into brumation and this was te first time he went into it and I’m afraid I might have killed him by a careless mistake please answer. I would like closure,

Ok I got home today to find my berdie head down in his tree. I picked him up and gave him a bath / dried him and put him in his tank. His lighting was normal, tank clean, food and water provided and when I woke up today he was laying on his log, where I put him, not moving and his tongue sticking out. He was 1 and 1/2 years old and dearly loved. I just want to know what I did wrong. He was going into brumation and this was te first time he went into it and I’m afraid I might have killed him by a careless mistake please answer. I would like closure,

my bearded dragon was 8 months old when he died I walked in the room to see he laying in a circle I thought he was sleeping later I came back picked him up he and droopy eyes and a discover skinny discolored stomach. I kept the cage up to date changed his water and feed he crickets with vitamin c or d no clue. What did I do wrong please help.

I have an 8 month old Beardie, and she had been adjusting well to her new home…but now, she’s not interested in eating, doesn’t move much, and when she does…she just scoots around, pushing herself, instead of walking. She has plenty of everything she needs, why is she acting this way? Is she dying? =,o(

We received a free bear die from a pet store she was said to be 8 months old….we set up her home exactly how we were told by a reputable reptile keeper. She didn’t eat much and one day maybe 3 crickets a day… We found her dead about a month after she captured my heart.
Then, I fell for a tiny baby dragon so active and as big as my finger!!! All through the winter she ate like a hippo…bugs not salad I offered but not eaten. 3 months later..she molted twice. Tonight I am broken hearted for I lost my little sunshine. She was up on her stick .

My female beardie just past away yesturday… We are all so devastated… it’s the first time one of my beardies died…. I brought the poor girl to the vet one week and a half ago to have her checked b/c she wasn’t eating at all. She was still moving and all, but not as much as she used to and was lethargic… The vet suggested to inject her with vitamines and stuff… From that day on, my beardie was never the same… she was always tired and rarely moved and still wouldn’t eat. We were also told to force feed the girl, she fought hard, but we still force fed her as recommended by the vet (the vet sold us some stuff to force feed with)… The 6 hours before my girl died, she vomit x3 times when my parents tired to force feed her… When I came home, she moved away from the hot side of the tank and with her mouth opened… She barely moved… SO I gave her a warm bath, took her out and held her for a while… Then noticed she was gone…

Looking back, I think the UVB lights I gave her were not effective anymore, as they were more than 1 yr old.. which could have caused some damage.. But any thoughts of what could have happened? Or the cause of death? She always ate normally and was always very active.

Hi my three month old bearded dragon was having breathing problems yesterday but cleared up after being fed water with a syringe. Today she experienced the same problems again but it didn’t clear up. Ten minutes later she passed away. I don’t know what caused the death. Please help.P.S she was eating, pooping and drinking water regularly

Set mine loose in the desert here in Central New Mexico about 2 years ago. Couldn’t care for him anymore. Unfortunate, but true. I wonder if he survived, and how long? Might’ve made a nice meal for a predatory bird, I’m afraid.

I understand you couldn’t care for him, but you NEVER, EVER release pets into the wild, especially not ones that don’t live naturally where you do. First of all, the animal is domesticated and most likely can’t survive long in the wild. Plus, if there were a few other released pets, they could mate and become an invasive species. This isn’t really directly to anyone, I’m saying this to all

Today my sweet girl passed away. She was 3 1/2 years old. When she was a year and half old she became impacted. Several x-Rays and doc visits she was good as new! About a week ago she started walking funny and wouldn’t put pressure on her back right leg. I set a apt and took her in Thursday. She was still eating and moving around but I knew something was wrong. I was given MELOXICAM. And told he thought she had gout. This isn’t the original doc who saved my sweet girl….. I was told to give .03ml every 24hrs.. After first dose she slept.. Well Friday she didn’t walk or eat.. Saturday the same and today I decided to give her Critial Care(did this in 2012 also) she still wasn’t waking and I planned to call him tomorrow to get her seen. She passed away about 4 hrs ago. I feel so stupid for not researching this medication first. Looks like FDA says it is to be used in dogs only.. DOGS!! I’m just devastated and wanted to put a warning out there.. I told them I would drive her the 2 hours for a proper exotic vet but they ensured me even though my original doc is gone that they could see and treat her… She was one of my own!

My 3 year old beardie passed away yesterday morning; he was acting strange the days before. I had given him a bath and cleaned EVERYTHING in his tank three days before, then gave him a mix of veggies (collard greens, mustard greens, turnip leaves, and butternut squash), he barely touched it. The mix smelled a little weird, so I’m not sure if i gave him some bad food? The next day, his beard was fully black, so I decided not to touch him in case he was going to get defensive. My mom gave him around 12 live crickets (usually he has more, but she wanted to spark his appetite). Normally, they’re all gone in ~45 seconds, but he didn’t even move! I noticed later he had eaten maybe 5 or 6 of them, but the rest were just running around his tank. I told my mom if he didn’t eat anything the next day, we should take him to the vet as soon as she got home from work. That afternoon, I took him out even though his beard was still black and he was not nearly as active as usual… he kept falling asleep on me. The next morning, he was back on his log (beard still black), and I checked on him later around 11:30 AM to find him in an unnatural position in his bowl, eyes half open and his mouth slightly open. I thought I saw him move, so I gave him a quick spray of water but he didn’t even blink, and he was completely still, and I realized he had died. This was very upsetting, and he has already been buried. I am trying to find some reason as to why he could have died.

hey, so i came home today and found my 4 month old fancy bearded dragon dead. He was perfectly fine, i have everything he needs a proper diet, fresh veggies, live crickets bathed in calcium, and all the lighting needed. i dont carry a UV light but i always take him out to the sun for a few hours and i leave him water. i cannot figure out what could have been the cause of his death, he was a little slow the past days but i thought that he was maybe in the brumming stage i guess i was wrong. GIGO had a nice small funeral(me and some background music) at my house and was buried in my backyard. He was awesome RIP

my sons five-year-old, very healthy, bearded dragon died earlier today. We noticed yesterday that his beard was very black. He had a seizure, vomited up a lot of blood, and then bled a lot from his mouth and died within an hour. We are shocked,we are stunned, we are heartbroken. He was very healthy so this comes as a complete shock. We didn’t even have time to get him to the vet. What could cause a death so quickly?

I have a 4 year old bearded dragon. She has always since day one never really pushed herself off her belly. She just has always kinda crawled around the cage. I have recently noticed that when she goes to move her legs to get around her legs are shakey. She very rarely eats live insects anymore and only wants greens. I have always given her calcium powder on her food since day one. I have taken her to the vet and they say she is fine maybe just fat. The reptile store also says she is fine just fat but she is not that fat. I feel sorry for her because I don’t know what is wrong with her. I have always cleaned her cage and put new bedding down that the reptile store told me to use. If anyone knows what is going on with her please let me know.
Thank you.

I own(ed) a wonderful little spirited dragon named Joe. He was allowed outside and with many hours of patience and some near misses he could have a life in the yard during the warm months. He died. He didn’t look good yesterday and I put him on the “infirmerary” I created for him in my warm bed. I was out of the house for 5 hours or so and when I came back he was dead. I am heart broken. My concern is this? Could he have eaten something in our yard ie a lightning bug? Also he ate my neighbors tomato and cucumber plant leaves. Lost to pieces with a broken heart. I live in Pa which is considered a warm temperate climate. Lynn

I just was scrolling through the answers here looking for any closure for the recent loss of my dragon, but as it turns out I can help with yours. Tomato leaves are quite toxic to some animals, this could have been what caused it. As a warning to all Beardie owners scrolling by, please always watch and care for your animal when you have them out of their vivarium. This is where so many accidents can happen, and it’s simply not worth the life of your pet to be doing something other than watching them while they’re out.

Hi I’ve had three beardies since xmas 2009 (not xmas presents) they were all from the same parents and have lived together since I got them, a couple of months ago (approx 2) 1 of them suddenly died which I dont understand as they are all looked after in the same way and the other two seemed fine, then yesterday another one died for no obvious reason and now i’m gutted but also worried for the remaining dragon as I wouldnt like to think it was suffering in anyway and I can’t aford to get him seen by a vet as I don’t have the money which is horrible not being able to help my little buddy, can anybody suggest anything I can do? their viv has newspaper on the base the proper lighting and water etc and they were fed curly kale and bugs bought from my local pet shop, can I also say to everybody on this site although these beardies dont actually need walked or looked after like a dog or cat they are 1 of the most difficult animals in the world to keep without really studying them either by reading books or checking forums or websites, so many conflicting pieces of info out there its mind boggling, and its so hard to spot your reptiles unwell until its too late to help, but get it right and you should have so many happy years with your reptile, I wish you’s all the best with your reptiles and I know how anybody who has lost a dragon is feeling its totally gut wrenching but you will get over it, buy another beardie as they dont all suffer the same fate in life.

I’m new to owning a Bearded Dragon but I have been doing research on them for about 3 years. I am also new to this web site…I wish I had NEVER started to read the comments here about the deaths of your pets!! I will be taking my 5 month old Berdie (Fluffy) to the vet within the next few weeks for a check up. I stopped reading now because you made me paranoid about anything and everything I am doing.

My almost 3 year old beardie died today…. He hasn’t been eating much lately and not much activity going on! I have seen other beardies who “hibernate” or don’t eat much or sleep for a while so we just kept watching him. Do you have any idea of what may have happened to him?

Parasites maybe? Can cause lethargy as the parasites take everything good from him and his energy and make them anorexic, loss of appetite. So sorry. I lost my boy too but mine was unknown nothing came up on tests.

Help! my beardie looks like she is dying. She keeps opening her mouth and makes a sound that sounds like a puff of air. She is almost a year old and is about 12 inches. She also has blood on her rectum. I have never seen her like this. This happened within 2 hours of me being gone. Please help hurry.

No they can’t but he can get very lethargic and can be susceptible to respiratory issues. Just think of how being cold and then hot one minute can build up bacteria that’s what will happen to him if he gets cold then hot again. I used a gas portable gas hob like for camping and gas cylinders to heat up the water and put him on the hot water bottle. A thought for a backup if heat goes out again. Least you are prepared. Hope that helps.

My beautiful of 3 and a half years, died a couple weeks ago, I don’t care what people say that he was just a lizard he was my son.
He wasn’t eating for a about a month but he did on and off and I kept feeding him baby food and calci worms and Morio worms by putting inside the mouth so he had no choice but to eat it. He was a very active boy running around and climbing stairs, he had looked a little stiff one morning and I thought he needed his UVB light changed even though it didn’t need to be replaced but did it anyway, he always had calcium and vitamins so I dont see how that was a problem. One night I fed him his Cali worms and he had a black beard, and I thought he was mad with me, so I cuddled him and then put him to bed a few hours after.
The next morning he still had a black beard and I rang up vets and took him and they said he was a very healthy boy and it might be the time of year, his fat pads were great and well hydrated and he might have just hurt his leg when he was in his tank, I showed the vet a video of his walking and she said his symmetry is good but looks feels a little inflamed or it might be some hard urine in there that just needs to be pooped out. I also said he felt very bloated like his tummy was tight, now it wasn’t impaction as he was on reptile carpet. She took blood tests from him that day. The next morning he had thrown up all of his baby food and his Morio worms and Cali worms whole. He went to the toilet fine and is very well hydrated plus his temps were great. He still had a black beard but had collapsed. I took him straight to vets and they did and xray and a fecal and nothing came up on them or blood tests except he had high white blood cell count. They gave him a shot of antibiotics and kept him overnight, they fed him protein and he still threw that up. But the next morning he died. I don’t understand it happened so quickly and I have lost my son and I am heartbroken. Can anyone think of what it could have been. I didn’t not want my son having an autopsy, I have a horrible guilt over me like I didn’t do enough but it was too quick and nothing showed up. I never got to say goodbye, I miss him so much.
We had amazing kisses and cuddles and he always napped with me. I miss this and can’t bear he has gone.

Sorry to hear about your beardy…it’s amazing how we bond with them..for people that say it’s just a lizard ..they haven’t ever owned or at least cared about anything but them selves ….I love my little guy ..he is 8 and like my baby …

We just found our Beardie named Goliath in his cahe dead. He has always been picky about what he eats….hardly any greens but he did eat crickets and mealwor.a. For the last 6 months we had been giving him dubia roaches and receny he started acting lethargic. I would put him outside in the sun sometimes and he really loved that. We always tried to offer him new safe fruits amd veggies but he would only eat bugs. He was well hydrates too and would drink water with no problems also loved to be misted but his beard would intermiytently turn black recently when we touched his right front leg and he was acting lethargic so we took him to the vet. They took an xray and said there was no injury but also gave him 2 vitamin shots. Since then his beard has stayed black and he became comoletelt lethargic. I gave him a bath and he was breathin but not moving att all which is unusual because he usually triea to crawl up my arm. I searched everywhere amd thought he may be foing into burmation? So we decided to let him be and just soak him as needed to keep him hudrated. We sis not let his head get into the water. But we just came home to find him dead. I am really mad that the vet did not find out the problem and now he ia dead!!!

Just wondering if anyone could help me. My female had a batch of eggs about 6 months ago! 16 of them hatched and 3 of them died within a short period of time ( I went and saw a local expert on this and she said that is was normal). I had 5 left in my viv yesterday, I went and got them some food (as a daily routine) and they had no locusts left , that is why the beardies were getting as crickets were eating them alive, but the shop had none so I got some meal worms instead. I have woke up this morning to 3 of them dead in the space of 24 hours! I have not changed anything other than giving them mealworms instead of locusts. I’m new to having babies but he bearded dragons for about 5/6 years now. I find this very strange as they were fine until I changed the product that they ate.

Hi I I’m really new t o taking care of this dragon. It was my choice to have him but my son who is 8 Really loves animals especially lizards. It was kept at his grandparents house because I’m not an animal person but for his 8th birthday I let him keep it at home. So naturally ,I am the one doing most of the maintenance. I clean and feed him and have grown to love him. Lol who new? Well I have seen a change in him and like I said I’m very new and no professional but I’m certainly worried. I haven’t seen him she’d , I see him sleeping all the time, and sometimes he doesn’t move. That really scares me because I sometimes think he’s dead but then he opens his eyes slowly. Are they supposed to be fat because I can feel his bones (ribs). My son will be crushed if he passes and I want to do everything I can. I give him dry crickets, those red pellets, and crickets. I try to give him lettuce and kale but he won’t eat it. Please help.

I have a question my dragon is eating but he also looks like he’s deforming also idk what’s causing it stil have to get a uvb light someone said its because he doesn’t have that what do I do to help him ?

Bearded dragons must have adequate UVA/UVB exposure from a specialized bulb. You can use the fluorescent lamps that are made for reptiles, or a mercury vapor bulb for reptiles. These bulbs mimic the radiation supplied by the sun. This radiation is crucial for bearded dragon to develop vitamin D3 which aids in the absorption of calcium. Very important for bone development and health.

You should also supplement the bearded dragon’s diet with calcium and multivitamin powders by dusting the food offered.

It sounds like your beardie may be suffering from Metabolic Bone Disease, which will most likely happen if there is no UVA/UVB exposure and no calcium (with vitamin D3) supplements added to the food. You need to get your bearded dragon to a veterinarian immediately for treatment. You should go to a local pet store and purchased an appropriate UVA/UVB lighting bulb and I recommend either Rep-Cal Calcium Powder with Vitamin D3 or Repashy Calcium Plus for diet supplements.

If this isn’t done the MBD will get worse until the bearded dragon dies a slow, painful death.

Please can you help I have a baby bearded dragon we have had him about 6 months now just recently I have noticed his legs and arms seem weird like there dragging behind him and he is sort of shuffling around on his stomach please help as I am very worried xx

My sons 5 month old fancy bearded dragon died today. After doing some rresearch and talking to the vet Ithink it was from iimpaction. He had a vet appointment in the morning when Igot bback with some vitamins for him Ifound him dead. II’mso sad

My bearded died unexpectedly 2 days after Christmas and it worry’s me it could have been my fault. Even if I did know what he died from I would still not be able to save him. Hope I can adopt another soon so I can use this website to help me?

hi i need some advice i took a severly malnourished beardie from my neighbour i am fooding him baby food vegies with calcium powder mixed in and giving him drips of water from my finger but its like his mouth is gluing its self shut i have to gently separate them every time any advice on what else i cant do he is only about 20 cm long not sure how old think they have had him a while

Hello! My families eight year old bearded dragon passed away a few days ago (about four) and I had time to find this website and ask about the conditions of his death. I found him in the corner of his habitat and he was very pale. The skin around his eyes looked very wrinkled and saggy almost. I was very sad and confused since a little over a week earlier he was healthy and responsive. I found out a new basking light had been purchased for him and I wondered if that had hurt him and dried him up? Or if his death was simply old age. The only thing that looked off about him was his paleness and that might have been because of the fact that he had died.

To all “New” beardie owners…please research ( bedding-lighting-MBD-vitamin A toxicity-impaction-diet-etc. etc. etc. ) All of these topics are vitally important to the proper care and health of your new family member. Please please please please DO YOUR RESEARCH.

I have a question. Until about 2 month thx ago I had 2 beardies. One died and the other one has not eaten a thing since. I cannot believe he is still alive. I keep giving him new lettuce and crickets but he ignores them. How long can he last without food.? What can I do to entice him to eat?

There are some attention-grabbing time limits on this article however I donâ€™t know if I see all of them middle to heart. There may be some validity but Iâ€™ll take maintain opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we wish more! Added to FeedBurner as properly

My 6 year old male beardie “King” died tonight unexpected he was acting like he was going to throw up a bunch and then stopped and I just woke to find him gone. His head was still raised but his mouth was cracked his eyes sank in and his beard was black… I went to go get him out to make sure he was OK and he was completely limp I had rescued him from a friend who didn’t take care of him but he had never acted like he did tonight ant clue why? I’m completely broken he was my baby and was just registered as a emotional service animal….

My baby died today. I bought a baby beardie last sunday (August 12, 2018) the employee said they were all about 4 weeks old. I did the research prior, and had a 20 gallon long tank. two basking logs (one for the hotside, and one for the cool). A daytime basking lamp, and a night time basking lamp. a UVB light, reptile carpet for substrate. From Day 1, it refused to eat. I kept trying. I soaked him 3 times a day in a warm bath. The tank on the “hot” side would get up to 110 degrees, but he would never bask under it. He would constantly climb to the nest underneath, or crawl to the other “cool” side and just sit. He was lethargic from day one. Barely moving around. The pet store said it was common behavior as they tried to acclimate to the new environment. I just knew in my gut, something wasn’t right. He would just not eat no matter what I tempted him with. He was skinny when I got him and not moving around as much as the other ones in the tank with him. I’m going to go get another one. I was thinking I would start with the 10 gallon tank since they are so small. Is there anything else I should try or that I didn’t do?
I really don’t want to be the one causing the death of the poor baby!

Hi my baby bearded dragon had died I think a parasite was on one of the branches we took from outside I cried for days straight because she was fine for 2 months and all of a sudden I lifted up her carpet and seen like 15 crickets she hadn’t been eating them because I noticed how skinny she was getting. Few days later she started having seizures and it was so sad I took her to the vet they gave her de worming shots and calcium shots I believe I was crying so much I don’t think the vet wanted to tell me she was going to die but he looked real sad and he gave me this powder to mix with water as food and this calcium liquid to give ever 24hours and I gave it to her everyday and a week later I came home to her upside down with her mouth open with the powdered food around her mouth I feel like I made her suffer and killed her more by doing that ): 💔

My Son’s bearded dragon just died Sunday. he has been fine acting normal, was running around Friday morning. I have no idea what happen. we did find a hole in his neck on the bottom, if you flip him over right in the middle of the neck was a perfectly circle hole that looks black. I’m not sure if you have ever heard of this – Please let me know if you know what this may have been –